Arrangements to clear backlog of waiting vessels (UPDATED)

31 Mar 2021 / Suez Canal, Egypt

The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has advised the following arrangements regarding transits to clear the backlog of waiting vessels that built up while the Canal was blocked by to the grounded container vessel:

SOUTHBOUND CONVOY

  • About 31 ships entered the Canal at about 21.30 hours local time last night (30 March), to wait at Great Bitter Lakes anchorages.

  • Another 12 ships entered the Canal at 07.30 hours local time today (31 March) with a free run until exiting the Canal from Suez.

NORTHBOUND CONVOY

  • About 7 ships entered the Canal at 05.00 hours local time today, to wait at Great Bitter Lakes anchorages.

  • At about 06.00 hours local time, another 30-31 ships entered the Canal with a free run until exiting from Suez.

Convoys are subject to change by the SCA in line with navigation considerations to speed up the transiting of all waiting ships. Convoys in both directions are running around the clock until the backlog is cleared.

UPDATE - 18:00 hours local time:
According to the latest available information from the SCA, a total of 190 vessels have transited the Canal in the past three days (74 on 29 March, 34 on 30 March and 82 today).

Arrangements for transits of vessels waiting at Port Said and Suez tomorrow (1 April) are as follows:

NORTHBOUND CONVOY
- At 05:00 hours local time on 1 April, about 15 ships will enter the Canal and wait at Great Bitter Lakes anchorages.
- At 09:00 hours local time on 1 April, 30 or more ships will enter the Canal for a free run until exiting from Suez.

The SCA has not yet advised transit arrangements for tomorrow’s southbound convoy.

For information about operations in the Suez Canal, contact GAC Egypt at [email protected]

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.